Page 81 of The Deceptions

Two figures climb out of the vehicle, obscured by the darkness surrounding them. I zoom in, trying to make out their features, but I come up empty-handed. Their license plate is blurry. Nothing I can’t undo, though. Unfortunately, it’ll take some time to deconstruct the video footage and make it a little clearer.

Fuck.

At least one thing came out of today. A new target to set my sights on and slowly unravel the mystery surrounding them.

Someone hackedinto the school's portal, accessing student information.Myinformation. Someone–a stranger–tried to look into my false identity, my previous college experience, grades, address, and Jonathan’s association with me.

Oliver.

Fuck.

As soon as I got back to my dorm on Monday, my phone sounded with an alert to the intrusion. I shudder at the thought. Were they able to unravel my true identity? I fucking hope not. Jonathan said he had it all taken care of. That I shouldn’t worry about anything happening to my undercover alter ego.

But here I am worrying about my alter ego.

Good thing I have a tech genius on my side, who so rudely promised he’d help me track the IP address of the unknown spy.

It all happened on Monday after my encounter with Hux. Although ‘encounter’ seems to be too small a word for that. War is more like it. The start of it, at least. Something deep in my guttells me that won’t be the last time I have an explosive reunion with him. And possibly the others. It’s only a matter of time, anyway.

Get close to them. Watch the college. Infiltrate their frat.

That’s my mission. The entire reason I’m here. So starting fights with them isn’t smart, but being on their radar is. Gaining their trust and proving myself to them is all I have to do. And I’ve already gone and pissed off Hux.

And now, someone is looking into my information.

Jordy

Have a good first day, squirt. I’m still here… bored as hell. Where is my thief? HEY. Is there a party this weekend? A fight? You know you want to invite your best bud Jordy.

Oli

Best bud, huh? I dunno. Maybe.

Jordy

Thatta girl… I mean boy… I mean… Oli…

Oli

Smooth, dick. You’re lucky these go poof after fifteen minutes.

I snort, putting my phone away and lifting my head, letting the sun shine down on my bare face. The one advantage to this undercover disguise is not having to wear make-up. Or high heels. Or small dresses. Or a damn wig. Being a woman is exhausting sometimes.

This one is all me. Just short hair, baggy clothes, and my bound chest. So far, so good. No one has questioned the slight scarring on my face, which has faded slowly through the years. It took time to heal after being burned.

But the one wound that will never fade is the long scar across my throat. It’ll forever be there as a reminder to my past.

With a heavy sigh, I weave through the clumps of people making their way toward the cafes and dining hall, animatedly chatting with their friends, and hysterically laughing. Nothing is that funny at nine in the morning. How’re they so peppy and perky this morning? I’m half awake. Like a damn zombie waltzing through campus looking for a brain to gnaw on. Even though I’m armed with two cups of coffee in my system, my eyes are heavy and I’m ready to hibernate for a week. Scratch that–a month. Why isn’t that an option, again?

Maybe I should have been born a bear.

I stifle the yawn begging to be released, and I finally make my way toward Bryer Hall. The criminal justice section of Greenwood U. Almost every class I’m taking this semester resides here. Apparently, they have a little bit of everything for everything. Including a law degree and a medical degree. You don't even have to leave campus to go through all the years of schooling you need to complete your education, which wasn’t available when I lived in town. Greenwood U has certainly grown since I last stepped foot on Franco’s territory. Maybe that’s his doing. A way to entice people to come here for college and stay longer. A piece to add to my notes when I submit them to Veritas tonight.

Butterflies bloom in my belly the moment I step up to the large building, and I stop dead, staring at the name scrawled above the double doors leading into the building where I’m supposed to take my first class.

Livy Hall.

“You’re my dream girl, Livy. My Buttercup,” Mack says with a grin, taking my hand. “Now, jump into my arms.”